Skirt.



A. M.- SCHNEIDER. SKIRT.

APPLIOATIOH rmm mn.1a,1e14.

Patented July 21, 1914.

onrrnn sra'rns Parana OFF1@E.

ALEXANDER 1V[. SCHNEIDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SKIRT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1914.

Application filed March 13, 1914. Serial No. 824,358.

hug the figureof the wearer, and at the same time permits the free movement of the limbs during walking and dancing.

The invention is particularly adapted for underskirts, but may if desired, also be ap plied to overskirts.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of a skirt embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 an enlarged longitu dinal section through the lower part thereof.

The skirt comprises a main body 10, which is of pronounced brevity, extending from the waist band 11 to a point somewhat above the knees of the wearer. Body 10 is cut close to the figure to obtain a tight fit over the hips, the lower portion of the body being however cut wider so as to be here readily extensible. At the lower edge of body 10, there is formed a continuous tubular pocket 12, within which is housed an endless elastic shirring tape or string 13, the length of which is such that it. will snugly encircle the limbs, and will thus draw the lower end of body 10 together into folds or gathers 1 1-. To the bottom of body 10, and preferably to the pocket 12 thereof, there is attached an accordion plaited laterally extensible flounce 15, which is of pronounced length, extending from a point above the knees, to the proper elevation above the shoes. Normally fiounce 15 is drawn together at its top where it meets the gathered bottom of body 10 by shirring string 13, so as to form a contracted tubular extension of body 10, which fits snugly around the limbs. In walking and dancing however, the spreading of the limbs in making a step, will cause'the shirring string to become stretched to correspondingly widen the bottom of body 10, and the top of flounce 15, so that these parts will now be considerably increased in diameter, the tubular form of the flounce being however maintained,

owing to the fact that its plaits will become distended uniformly throughout their length. Thus during walking or dancing, the flounce will become alternately expanded and contracted, closely clinging at all times to the body of the wearer, and following every movement thereof. If the skirt is worn as a petticoat, for which use is more especially adapted, it will at allv tlmes neatly sheath the limbs, and combinewith a very pleasing effect the additional advantage that it will not unduly inflate the outer garments. So also the fiounce owing to its extensive length, is free to fan out freely during more violent movements, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In order to reinforce the skirt body at its junction with the flounce, an endless band 16 is made to encompass its connection therewith, the upper edge of the band being sewn to the body 10, as at 17, while the lower edge is sewn to the flounce as at 18. The length of this band is such that it will be normally shirred by string 13, and will participate in the extension and contraction of the lower body portion and flounce hereinabove referred to.

I claim:

1. A skirt comprising an upper body having an extensible lower portion which is normally gathered into folds, an extensible flounce depending therefrom which flounce is normally gathered at its top, and an elastie at the junction between body and fiounce, whereby the flounce and lower body portion are jointly held normally in their gathered position.

2. A skirt comprising an upper body that is adapted to hug the figure at the hips and extends to a point above the knees, the lower portion of said body being extensible, a pocket formed at the bottom of said lower portion, an accordion plaited fiounce depending from the body and being extensible throughout its length, and an elastic within the pocket, whereby the flounce and lower body port-ion are jointly contracted.

ALEXANDER M. SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses o HENRY LICHTENBERG, FRANK v. BRIESEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0. 

